Champawat – In a harrowing case of human trafficking, seven youths from Uttarakhand were deceived with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, only to be sold for ₹25,000 each in Thailand. The youths were then forced into illegal online scamming operations. Their plight came to light when they managed to contact their families after being subjected to physical abuse for refusing to cooperate with the scammers.
This shocking revelation has raised concerns about the growing vulnerability of unemployed youth in India, who, in their desperation for work, fall prey to international trafficking networks.
The Trafficking Scam: A Detailed Account
The mastermind behind this operation, Rahul, a native of Porbandar, Gujarat, lured the youths into his trap, promising them high-paying jobs in Thailand. Once the victims arrived in Thailand, they were handed over to a network that forced them to engage in online scamming activities, a trend that has been gaining ground as a method used by international crime syndicates to exploit vulnerable individuals.
When these youths resisted participation in illegal activities, they were subjected to brutal physical abuse. The youths, from Dehradun, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar, endured mental and physical torture. Their desperate attempts to reach out to their families in Uttarakhand were finally successful, prompting swift action from local authorities.
Rajendra Soun, a resident of Champawat, reported that his son Lallit, along with other friends, had left for Delhi in search of employment. Here, they met with traffickers Rahul and Jaydeep Ramji Tokadiya, who organized their travel to Thailand under the guise of a job opportunity. Once there, the youths were trafficked further for criminal exploitation.
Police Action and Arrests
The Champawat police, in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, acted quickly to rescue the victims. On September 13, 2024, the police arrested Jaydeep Ramji Tokadiya from Gujarat. However, his accomplice, Rahul, managed to escape to Dubai before the arrest could be made.
विदेश में नौकरी दिलाने का झासा देकर #बनबसा क्षेत्र के 03 युवको को #स्कैमिंग का कार्य कराये जाने हेतु गैर राष्ट्र म्यामार को बेचने वाले अभियुक्त को #गुजरात राज्य से किया गिरफ्तार
बनबसा क्षेत्र के बन्धक 03 युवको को #भारतीय_दूतावास के माध्यम से सकुशल वापस लाया गया pic.twitter.com/dVQckfsLc6
— Champawat Police Uttarakhand (@Champawatpolice) September 16, 2024
Investigations revealed a deeper, more troubling network that had been preying on unemployed youth from Uttarakhand and neighboring states. The traffickers, operating under the guise of job agents, promised employment in Southeast Asia, but instead, sold these individuals to foreign companies for scamming operations.
According to the police, the traffickers sold these youths for around 10,000 Thai Baht (approximately ₹25,000). The victims were held hostage and forced to work under duress. When they refused, they were physically assaulted, and their captors demanded large sums of money from their families for their release.
